Bed tray



J. F. O'NEILL Aug. 7, 195] BED TRAY Filed May 18, 1946 INVENTOR JAMES F. O'NEILL BYWZ/ZQ AT TORNEY Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BED TRAY James F. ONeill, Wyandotte, Mich.

Application May 18, 1946, Serial No. 670,686

Claims. (Cl. 312-251) This invention relates to bed trays for use of a person confined to a bed through sickness or infirmity, The purpose of the invention is to propositionable in a horizontal plane or at an angle thereto, means being provided to hold a book or papers and when in the open position exposes receptacles containing food for instance, or other purposes. I

The invention in its preferred form is shown in the accompanying drawing in which-,-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view taken from the front side showing the tray with the cover member in the open position. a

Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from the rear side andshowingthe cover member in partly closedposition. a

The device is intended for use by a person confined to a bed and consists of a frame! having short legs 2, 3, 4 and 5 secured thereto. The frame is preferably of rectangular form and has a central bar 6 extending between the ends of the frame as shown in Fig. 2. The tray 1 has side flanges 8 and 9 and on the outer faces of each of the flanges are longitudinally adjustable bars in and ll each having a slot I2 and screws Illa and Ha extend through each of the side frames and the slot of the adjustable bars which are retained in position by the wing nuts 13 and M on each of the side flanges. The bars Ill and II are longitudinally adjustable on the flanges 8 and 9 to engage the surface on which the legs 2, 3, 4 and 5 may rest and prevent movement of the tray toward the person using the device. At the bottom end of the tray, as shown in Fig. l, is a bar i5 slotted to receive screws [6a and l6b having the wing nuts [6 and H. The said bar prevents small articles, such as a knife, a spoon or other article from sliding off the base member.

A pair of studs projects in spaced relation from the lower hinged end of the base and are adapted to receive the bar I5 which has corresponding openings formed therein to receive said studs. The wing nuts l6 and i! on said'studs are cooperable with said bar to permit spacing thereof with respect to said base whereby an article may be secured between said base and said bar.

The device has a cover l8 hinged at one edge to the upper end of the tray 1 which is preferably provided with a block IS on its under side to support the cover member l8 when in the open position.

The tray 1 has recesse 19 and 20 in the face thereof to receive dishes of food or articles that the user may desire and the recess 20 extends under the upper end of the tray 1 providing a recess having a movable or hinged cover 2| that may close the recess 2!] wherein the user may place personal articles of value.

At the lower edge of the tray 1 is a wire 2| removably supported at the lower edge of the base member by the bar 15 and provides a means for retaining articles. The tray 1 has a U-shaped rod 22 having its free ends pivotally secured in the respective brackets 23 and 24 on the under side of the tray and the opposite end is engagable in any one of the grooves 25 in the cross bar 6 in any of which the loop end of the wire 22 can be positioned to support a tray in desired angular position. When not in use the wire 22 is foldable into the space between the walls of the recesses l 9 and 20 and thus permit the tray 1 to be lowered to a horizontal position on the supporting frame I. The cover it is foldable over the upper face of thetray l and, when in horizontal position provides a table that may be utilized in any desired manner. I I

As before stated the principal use of my improved tray is by a person confined to bed and the legs of the frame I therefore are short and in use of the device, the legs of the user pass beneath the device and when in sitting position the food or other element for which the tray may be used is readily accessible due to the angular position of the tray. The tray may also be used by a person lying at an angle les than a right angle to a horizontal plane. Preferably the base I is provided with frame like elements 1a hav the longitudinal edges notched to receive the cross bars lb providing chambers in which various objects may be positioned.

It is believed evident from the foregoing description that the various features and object of the invention are attained by the form and structural arrangement and relationship of the parts herein and before described.

Having thus briefly described my invention, its structural arrangement of parts and. utility thereof, what I claim is:

l. A bed tray comprising a framework, legs depending therefrom for supporting the same, a base having side flanges positioned upon said frame and pivotally joined thereto at one end, a bar on each of said flanges adjustable longitudinally thereof to engage the surface on which the legs rest and prevent movement of the tray, with their one ends extending rearwardly of said base, said base having a recess formed therein providing a receptacle for articles, and means with their one ends extending rearwardly of said base, said base having a recess formed therein providing a receptacle for articles, means piiz otally joined at one end to the under sideof said base, with its opposite end coopera'bl'e with said framework for supporting thebase at-an angle to the horizontal, anda strip on said framework having a plurality of transverse spaced slots to receive selectively the opposite end of said means for varying the angular disposition of said'base.

'SrA' bed tray comprising a framework, legs depending therefrom for supporting the same, a base having side flanges positioned upon said frame and pivotally joined thereto at one end, a' bar on each of said flanges adjustable longitudinally thereof to engage the surfaceon which the legs rest and prevent movement of the'tray, with their one ends extending rearwardly of said base, said base havin a recess formed therein providing a receptacle for ar ticles, means pivotally joined at one'end to the under side of said base, with its opposite end cooperable with said framework for supporting the base at an angle to the horizontal, a cover hinged at one end to the other end of said-base andadapted forpositioning in substantialalign n errtwith said base, means on said base'and extending therefrom for supporting said cover when in open position, and an article supporting means extending at an angle to said base and positioned adjacent its one hinged end.

i. Abed tray comprising a framework, legs depending therefrom for supporting the same, a base having side flanges positioned upon said frame and pivotally joined thereto at one end, a bar on each of said flanges adjustable longitudinally thereof to engage the surface on which the legs rest and prevent movement of the tray, with their one ends extending rearwardly of said base, said base having a recess formed A ,depending therefrom for supporting the same,

the same and the inner therein providing a receptacle for articles, and a U-shaped wire frame with its upper free end pivotally joined to the under side of said base and with its lower end cooperable with said framework for supporting the base at an angle thereto, and a strip on said framework having a plurality of transverse spaced slots to receive selectively said lower end of said U-shaped wire frame for varying the angular position of said base. i

bed tray comprising a framework, legs a base having side flanges positioned upon said frame and pivotally joined thereto at one end, a bar oneach of said flanges adjustable longitudinally thereof to engage the surface on which the legs. rest and prevent movement of the tray, with their one ends extending rearwardly of said base, said base having a recess formed therein providing a receptacle for articles, means pivotallyjoined at one end to the under side of said base, with its opposite end cooperable with said framework for supporting the base at an angle to the horizontal, a pair of spaced studs extending outwardly from the one end of said base, and a transversebar positioned at said end of the base and-mounted at its opposite ends upon said studs and adjustably secured thereto Whereby an article may be secured to said base between wall of said bar.

JAMES F. ONEILL.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I d OTHER REFERENCES Popular Science, December 1937, page 85. 

